Chapter 35 | Mention

"Fine, what do you want, Lukan?" Gierro asked between his laughs.

"The knight will do," I answered him.

He took my pawn that reached the other end of the board and replaced a knight in its position. The move was commonly called promotion and in life... it was also applicable.

I could vaguely remember the young Lukan related himself to a pawn, weak and powerless. A pawn that only had one step at a time and couldn't go back once it moved... but all of that happened in the past that helped the young Lukan to be where he was right now.

The pawn Lukan reached the end when he let go the love he and his lover barely spent.

Wakas kung sabihin sa wikang Pilipino, wakas ng pag-iibigang inakala kong para sa amin. Tulad ng iba'y inisip ko rin noong ang dulo ay walang kasunod... ngunit ang dulo pala'y siya ring bagong simula.

"Checkmate," I announced.

Gierro groaned as he realized he lost against me.

Now, I wasn't a pawn anymore. I hadn't compared myself in any chess pieces after reaching the end of the past but I felt better than before. I had the power, I ain't weak and I improved for the past six years of learning.

"Gierro, dapat kasi tumambay ka na lang sa opisina mo," pang-aasar ng bagong dating na si Olivver.

"Dapat nagbenta ka na lang din ng langis, gago," Gierro attacked Olivver.

"For your fucking information, maayos ang production of oils namin at mataas ang sales for the last years. So, technically, maayos ang daloy ng kompanya ko at nagbebenta pa rin ako ng langis kahit wala ako roon," Olivver stated.

"Bakit ba kayo nandito?" I asked the both of them.

Seriously, I was reviewing the monthly reports when Gierro knocked and distracted me.

"Wala akong magawa sa opisina, kailangan ko ng karamay," Gierro answered me.

"Wala rin akong inaasikaso ngayong araw kaya dumalaw ako," Olivver answered too.

"May ginagawa ako kanina. Since nandito naman kayo, magsama na lang kayong dalawa at lumayas dito," I ordered them.

"Hala? Grabe naman, Lukan, pinapalayas mo kami?" drama ni Olivver.

"Iba talaga kapag may naabot na sa buhay, 'no? Nakalilimot na," dagdag pa ni Gierro.

I laughed at them and didn't mind their accusations.

"Nagkaroon lang ng sariling hospital at nakapagtapos lang ng may mataas na parangal, nakalimot na? Grabe, ang sama mo, Lukan," Gierro said with thick sarcasm.

"Gusto ka lang naming damayan pero pinapaalis mo kami? Parang kailan lang sa amin ka pa nagmukmok—"

"Tangina, ang mga bagay sa nakaraan ay hindi na dapat binabalikan," I joked.

"Wala, nagbago ka na," tukso ni Olivver.

"Lumaki na ang ulo, ang puta," mura ni Gierro.

I was about to say something when someone knocked outside and called me by my last name.

The two silenced and I shrugged. I neared the door to open and meet the person behind.

"Yes?" I asked my secretary.

"Sir, nag-message po si doctor Selezter—"

"Sino sa dalawa? Si tita o si Trinity?" I asked.

"Si doctor Aneia Selezter po, ang mother ni doctor Trinity Selezter," he answered me.

I personally hired a secretary who was professional and linguistic for us to communicate better. He'd been working for me since day one of everything.

"Bakit daw?" I formally asked.

"They'll come here later to talk with you. Doctor Aneia has an important matter to discuss with you," he answered.

"About?"

"I asked her too but she answered it was confidential so it must be just between the two of you," sagot niya sa akin.

"Alright, thank you. Update sa mga pina-ship na equipments sa Philippines?" I asked him.

I had the latest update waiting on my table but I didn't continue reading since Gierro and Olivver went in my office.

"Dadating na po mamayang gabi sa hospital ang mga bagong pinadala," he answered as he tapped something on his iPad.

"Okay, book me a flight to the Philippines. I want everything to be organized and well treated," I ordered him.

"Kailan po?"

"The next flight available," I answered.

He nodded and I took that as my cue to enter my office. When I came back, the two were playing chess while shouting at each other.

"Ang saya ninyong dalawa. Gierro, dadating si doktora Aneia with Trinity for sure mamaya. Lumayas ka na rito kung tinataboy mo pa rin si Trinity," I informed him.

Gierro made a face and rolled his eyes. He said back, "Hindi ko naman tinataboy si Trinity."

"Sure, college days," I let him remember.

"Lagi pa kayong nag-aaway no'n. Ano bang problema mo kay Trinity? Ayos naman siya," Olivver hissed at Gierro.

"We kind of had a not so good past, alright," Gierro answered.

"Kailan pa? High school?" I asked him.

He nodded and moved a piece.

"Jusko, high school pa pala. Mga bata pa kayo no'n, uso mag-move on," Olivver commented.

"Hindi nila alam 'yan, Ver. Kung anomang problema nilang dalawa, maaaring mabigat para tanggapin o hindi kaya'y matatayog lang ang pride at ayaw mag-usap," I stated.

"Makapagsalita ka riyan, Lukan. Ikaw ba? Kung magkikita kayo muli ni Mia, anong gagawin mo?" Gierro attacked me.

I shrugged and didn't even feel anything when he mentioned her.

"Six years passed, Gierro, for sure things changed. As if we'd meet again?" I said and chuckled afterward.

"I haven't thought about it. Hindi ko na siya iniisip," I added.

"Naks, ano ka, Taylor Swift?" tukso ni Olivver.

Gierro acted like he was talking over the phone, "I'm sorry, the old Lukan can't come to the phone right now."

"Why?" pakikisabay naman ni Olivver.

"Oh, 'cause he's dead!" Gierro continued.

"Look what you made me do," kanta ng dalawa.

I laughed at their parody cover of the song and decided to sit on the single couch near them.

"Pero seryoso, you haven't searched anything about her for the past years?" Gierro asked me.

I swayed my head as I answered, "No, not even once. Alam ninyo kung gaano ako ka-busy nitong nakaraang mga taon."

"Busy lang ba talaga o ayaw mo na talagang balikan?" Olivver teased me.

"Hindi naman sa ayaw balikan. I don't consider thinking of her anymore because I see no use of it," I answered.

"Right, tingin ko rin ay masaya na siya kay Eros," chismis ni Gierro.

"Since hindi ka naman bothered kay Mia, update ka lang namin," Olivver stated.

I chuckled and asked, "Why are you all updated anyway?"

"I work in the field of business, so somehow I gain news from others about the Zorrons," sagot ni Gierro.

"And in my part, gusto ko lang talagang makibalita kaya't nakarinig ng ibang chismis," walang kuwentang rason ni Olivver.

"Bahala kayo. I'm not bothered anyway," I trailed off.

"Lagi silang magkasama ni Eros, as I said a while ago," Gierro started.

"Halos lahat din ng chismis ay tungkol sa kanila. I'm not sure if they are already engaged or something," Olivver added.

"Ang sabi nag-aaral pa si Mia, something related to chemistry," Gierro told us.

"Iyan lang ba?" I asked, bored.

"Talagang hindi na affected," Olivver teased me.

"If you've gone the same shit as mine, you'll understand why," I joked.

"Do you think Mia regretted what she did? Or at least does she feel sorry for it?" Gierro randomly asked us, "it's been years yet she never tried apologizing. I mean, it's not necessary and I don't know her whole side but you know... just a thought."

Both of them looked at me as if I had the correct answer.

I chuckled and said instead, "I don't know. I told you, I haven't thought of anything related to her for the past years. If she regrets, what's the point? Nangyari na iyon. It's her job to move on from the chaos she started."

"Like how you moved on from the mistakes you did?" Olivver asked me.

"Yeah, exactly. You can't grow in the shadows," I pointed out.

"Grabe, na saan na ba iyong dating Lukan na patay kay Mia?" Olivver joked.

"Ako ang pinag-iinitan ninyo, iyang si Gierro ilang taon na nating kaibigan hindi naman nagk-kuwento," I shifted the topic.

"Nagulat na lang ako, magkakilala sila ni Trinity pero magka-away. Dati mo bang fling si Trinity?" I asked him randomly.

"No, isang beses nga lang kaming nagkita no'n—"

"Oh, bakit ang labo ninyo?" Olivver asked.

"Pinipilit kasi ako noon ng papa niyang kilalanin siya. . . even my parents wanted me to know her more and they expected we'd develop something afterward," Gierro told us.

"Bakit magkakilala parents mo at parents niya?" I asked.

"Friends since high school ang alam ko," he answered, "ayaw ko kasi ng gano'n at alam naman nila iyon. Tagal ko nang sinabing wala akong interes kay Trinity."

"Doon nagmula ang alitan ninyong dalawa? Baka naman kasi may ginawa ka para masaktan siya," Olivver said.

"Seriously, I don't know. Wala naman akong paki sa kanya noon—"

"Noon," asar namin ni Olivver.

"Why don't you try asking her to clear the air?" Olivver suggested.

"I tried, alright. Nilalayuan niya ako at kung hindi naman makalayo, hindi ako pinapansin," Gierro answered.

"Paniguradong may nagawa ka talagang mali," I concluded.

"Gusto ko ring malaman 'yan, Lukan. I can't roam around and enjoy my life knowing she has anger towards me. It's distracting and unhealthy," dagdag pa ni Gierro.

"Knowing Trinity, she'll make her enemies suffer and that girl doesn't forgive," I said unconsciously.

"Tinatakot mo naman, Lukan," tukso ni Olivver kay Gierro.

"Lukan?" I heard doctor Aneia's voice from outside.

"Nandiyan na sila," I informed them.

Olivver stood to open the door for them and greeted the two with a dashing smile.

"Wow, nandito kayo," bati ni doctor Aneia sa dalawa.

"Yes po, we visited Lukan—"

"Lukan!" tili ni Trinity nang nakapasok at nakita ako.

I flashed a genuine smile and stood up to meet her with a warm hug. Tumingkayad pa siya upang maabot ang aking mga balikat. Trinity hugged me tightly as if we didn't meet for a decade.

"Hindi na ako makahinga!" I told her.

"I missed you so much," nanggigigil niyang sabi.

"Oo na, bitaw na. Ang bigat mo, Trinity," tukso ko.

She let go and faced me, "Hindi mo ba ako na-miss?" she asked me and blinked like a puppy.

"Hindi ka cute, Trinity," natatawa kong sabi.

"Grabe!" she reacted and slapped my tummy.

Lumapit siya kay Olivver upang yakapin din ito. Nagsumbong pa siyang parang bata kay Olivver at nakisama naman ang gago.

"Where's Fred?" malungkot na tanong ni Trinity.

Tingnan mo 'to, kanina ay masaya pa ngunit ngayon ay malungkot na. Ang bilis magbago ng mood, that was Trinity Selezter for you.

"He's in the military, remember?" Olivver answered her.

"Right! Nam-miss ko na rin siya. Sana okay lang si baby Fred," she trailed off.

"Baby Fred, what the hell," natatawa kong sabi.

"Si Fred lang ang may gustong makarinig niyan, huwag na sa amin, Trinity," paki-usap ni Olivver.

"Si Gierro, hindi mo na-miss?" I joked.

She made a face and dismissed my question.

"Pagpasensiyahan ninyo na si Trinity at mahilig lang talaga iyang gumawa ng pangalan sa mga close niya," natatawang sabi ni tita sa amin.

"Nasanay na po kami, sadyang ang pangit lang ng baby Fred. Ang laking tao ni Fred tapos gano'n ang tawag mo?" I said between my chuckles.

"Paki mo ba? Inggit ka, baby Lukan?" she teased me.

Humalakhak naman sina tita at Olivver.

"Kilabutan ka nga, Trinity," I hissed.

She laughed and sat beside her mother. I decided to sit on the same single couch.

"I have something important to tell you, Lukan," tita Aneia started.

"Is it okay for us to listen?" tanong ni Gierro, "we can go outside for a while naman po."

"No, it's alright, this is not personal naman," tita answered.

"May patient kasi akong matagal ko ng hawak dulot ng kanyang iniindang sakit. Here, you can read her previous tests and consultations to know about it," she handed me a folder and a long brown envelope.

I took but didn't open, I'd read these once we were done talking.

"She's living in the Philippines. I suggested her to become one of your hospital's VIP patients upang matutukan talaga siya't hindi na lumala pa ang kondisyon," doctor Aneia added.

"Okay, I'll review her data and contact you after. Sakto at uuwi ako sa Pilipinas—"

"Uuwi ka?" excited na tanong ni Trinity.

I nodded and added, "to organize the new equipments and inspect the branch."

"Such a responsible leader, I knew you'd be great," komento ni tita Aneia.

"Won't you continue studying cardio, Lukan?" Trinity asked me.

"Haven't considered it yet... I still have bigger plans for the hospital along with the board. Also, the World Health Organization is requesting me for a meeting. Hindi ko pa ito nad-discuss sa iba kaya't hindi pa ako sumasagot—"

"Wow, grabe! I'm so proud of you," nagagalak na sabi ni Trinity.

What Trinity said warmed my heart. That was the only sentence I longed to hear from people around me—them being proud of me.

"Salamat," I told Trinity.

"Big time na pero hindi kami malibre," parinig ni Olivver.

"Lagi kayong busy. Gusto ko ring nandito si Fred kapag nanlibre ako," I told them.

"Kidnap-in na kaya natin si Fred sa kampo?" Gierro suggested.

"Ngayong gabi pa kung gusto mo," pakikisabay ni Olivver.

"By the way, tita, what's your patient's name?" I asked doktora while the two planned getting Fred out of the camp.

"Her family is known, she's Thera Mia Carvajal Zorron," doctor Selezter answered casually.

The three of us went silent for a minute.

"Tahimik," puna ni Trinity, "may dumaan bang anghel?" tukso pa niya.

"May problema ba, Lukan?" doctor Aneia confronted me.

"Wala naman po... what was her family's reaction when you mentioned me and my hospital?" I asked.

"They looked shocked and speechless for a while but in the end they agreed and considered your hospital," she answered me.

"Kilala ba ninyo? Para kayong naestatwa kanina," tita Aneia mocked.

"Schoolmate lang po," ako na ang sumagot.

"Oh, okay–"

Tita's phone rang and she excused herself to answer the call. Nang lumabas si tita ay saka lamang nagsalita si Gierro.

"Tingnan mo nga naman, ang bilis magkatotoo ng sinabi ko," parinig niya sa akin.

"Muling ibalik ang tamis ng pag-ibig," kanta naman ni Olivver.

"Bakit, anong mayroon?" tanong ni Trinity sa dalawa.

"Si Lukan ang tanungin mo, Trinity, baka magalit kung kami ang magsasabi sa 'yo," natatawang sabi ni Olivver.

"Bakit? Ex mo, Lukan?" she asked me now, chuckling.

"Hindi nga naging kami," natatawa kong sagot.

"Oh, the typical no label landian pala!" she concluded.

"Pero hindi lang landian ang namagitan sa dalawa. May feelings involved," pakikisabay ni Olivver.

"Kaya pala tumanggi ka sa akin noon! Sabi ko na't may babae kang naiwan sa Pinas, e," Trinity recalled.

"Mapapakanta ka na lang talaga," komento ni Gierro.

"Tulad ng ilog na hindi tumitigil sa pag-agos, pag-ibig 'di matatapos," duet nina Gierro at Olivver upang asarin ako.

"Ala-ala'y bumabalik—" piyok ni Gierro.

"Lukan, mauuna na ako," balik ni tita at natahimik muli ang dalawa.

"Ah, sige po," I said.

"Ingat po, tita," sabi nina Olivver at Gierro.

"Hindi ka sasabay, Trinity?" she asked her daughter.

"Kay Lukan muna ako, ma, makikitulog," she answered.

"Ayos ha, walang pasabi basta na lang makikitulog," komento ko.

"I'm not a visitor in your place naman," she pointed out.

Her mother bid good bye and Trinity didn't stop pestering me to tell our past. Hanggang sa aking sasakyan ay bunganga niya at ni Olivver ang aking narinig. Gierro separated back home because he had his car with him. Olivver didn't bring his kaya't nakisabay.

I let Olivver tell Trinity what she wanted. I just corrected some details and they'd tease me everytime I say something.

"Nakakikilig naman! Bakit sila naghiwalay? I mean why did they end up like this?" tanong ni Serenity.

"Pareho silang mga bata pa noon upang magpatuloy at isa pa, both of them had their own problems that affected their relationship," pormal na sagot ni Olivver.

"But what did really happen?" Trinity asked us.

"Hindi ko sure kung dapat kong sabihin iyan, hayaan mong si Lukan na ang sumagot," sabi ni Olivver.

"Dito ka lang, Ver, 'di ba?" I pointed at one of the open expensive bars here in California.

"Yes, just drop me at the entrance," he ordered me.

Nang bumaba si Olivver ay ako na ang kinausap ni Trinity.

"I won't force you to tell me, anyway it's all in the past. Naintriga lang ako sa mga reactions ninyo kanina when mom mentioned her name... but have you recovered from her?" she asked.

"I'm already fine, Trinity," sagot ko.

"Fine, that word though has different meanings behind," she said.

"Lukan, you don't need to pretend fine when you're feeling the opposite—"

"I am really fine, Trinity, chill," I assured her because her tone seemed dramatic.

"I had enough of the drama. I'll just let everything flow and go when it is meant to be," I added.

"Wow, nakaka-mature talaga ang heartbreak, 'no?" she joked.

I chuckled and said, "I learned, Trinity."

"Right. Your friends must just be over reacting things. Hindi naman talaga kayo magkikita muli, she'll just be one of your hospital's special patients and you won't look after her from time to time... unless," she trailed off.

"Walang unless, Trinity," natatawa kong sabi at kinanan ang kotse.

"What if she still likes you? Or she loves you pala after all that happened?" Trinity tried messing my head.

"I don't think of impossible what ifs so knock it off," I told her instead.

"Yeah, sure... pareho lang tayo, Lukan, na may iniiwasan. Hindi rin kita masisisi," she said like a whisper.

"Alam mo, pagod lang 'yan," I tried lifting the mood.

"At gutom! Daan tayo sa favorite natin, please?"

Her mood swing was really something.

I laughed and answered, "No need to please, nagugutom din ako."

"Yes! Libre mo ba ako?" hirit niya.

"Nahawa ka na kina Fred at Ver... pero sige, libre na kita. Huwag mong sabihin sa mga iyon at baka magselos," I joked.

"Baka nga si Mia mo pa ang magselos kung malaman niyang super close natin," she randomly said.

"Stop bringing Mia in any conversations," I commanded.

"Oo na, biro lang sana iyon. Don't be mad," she poked my face to lighten my mood.

"Just don't mention her in anything and I'll be fine," I reminded.